The expression of MMP25 mRNA in the normal gastric tissues was significantly lower than that in the atrophic gastritis and gastric carcinoma tissues (0.703±0.014, 6.175±0.702 and 7.328±1.235, respectively; t=7.149, t1=6.123; P>0.05). The gene discussed is MMP25; the disease is chronic atrophic gastritis.